Month: February 2011

Stoudemire scores 41 on Sixers

The AP reports:

Amar'e Stoudemire scores 41 on Sixers

Apparently not getting enough of a workout, Amare Stoudemire did a few push-ups before heading to the line for some late-game free throws.

Stoudemire wants the New York Knicks to be tougher, and on Sunday he simply overpowered the Philadelphia 76ers.

The All-Star forward matched his season high with 41 points on 17-of-21 shooting in the Knicks’ 117-103 victory, which gave them a split of an important home-and-home series.

“He understands the big moment and the stage,” Knicks coach Mike D’Antoni said. “That’s why he came to New York.”

Rookie Landry Fields added a career-high 25 points and grabbed 10 rebounds as the Knicks rebounded from a 100-98 loss Friday night in Philadelphia to snap a two-game losing streak and win for just the fourth time in 13 games.

Chris Sheridan of ESPN reports:

The only downer on a day of domination for Amare Stoudemire was the technical foul he picked up from referee Bob Delaney for skipping in frustration after he was whistled for a reaching-in foul.

To Stoudemire, it was like being ticketed for driving 56 mph in a 55 mph zone.

To Delaney, a former New Jersey state trooper, it was a violation that probably only merited a warning.

At least that’s what Stoudemire said Delaney told him.

“After talking to him, he really didn’t think that was a bad play on my part. He felt more lenient, toward I might get that one taken away. So I’ll see how it goes,” Stoudemire said after scoring 41 points on 17-for-21 shooting in one of the best games he has played all season, a 117-103 victory over the Philadelphia 76ers that kept the Knicks from falling to .500.

The technical he picked up Sunday afternoon was Stoudemire’s 14th of the season, moving him within two techs of the dreaded No. 16 — which brings with it an automatic one-game suspension, as would technical fouls No. 18, 20, 22, etc.

Rockets suspend Aaron Brooks one game

Rockets suspend Aaron Brooks one game

Houston Rockets guard Aaron Brooks has been suspended for tomorrow night’s game in Denver for conduct detrimental to the team.

The team will have no further comment regarding this matter.

According to Jonathan Feigen of the Houston Chronicle, “Brooks was taken out of Saturday’s overtime win against the Memphis Grizzlies with 6:45 left in the fourth quarter, but instead of heading to the bench, went to the locker room. Brooks has said he had been frustrated with his role coming off the bench and with his play, but had gotten over it. He was not available for comment.”

Read fan reaction and discuss your own opinion in this forum topic.

Suns sign Zabian Dowdell for rest of season

The Suns have signed guard Zabian Dowdell (ZAY-bee-in dow-DELL) through the remainder of the 2010-11 season, the team has announced.

The 6-3, 191-pound Dowdell has appeared in five games with the Suns this season over the course of two 10-day contracts, recording averages of 3.2 points, 1.8 assists and 1.0 steals in 10.0 minutes per game. Dowdell also spent training camp with the Suns in 2010 before being waived on Oct. 19.

Dowdell played 18 games of the 2010-11 season with the Tulsa 66ers of the NBA D-League, where he averaged 14.5 points, 4.6 assists and 2.1 rebounds in 29.3 minutes in 18 starts.  Dowdell, who also spent 10 games with the 66ers in 2009-10, saw both his scoring and assist averages increase in 2010-11.

A four-year performer at Virginia Tech (2003-07), Dowdell was a member of the Suns’ 2009 and 2010 Las Vegas Summer League entries.  As a Hokie, he was a 2006-07 All-ACC First Team honoree and a two-time All-ACC Defensive Team selection.

Richard Hamilton finally plays for Pistons

The AP reports:

Richard Hamilton finally plays for Pistons

Richard Hamilton thought it was a joke when Pistons coach John Kuester told him to check in for the first time since Jan. 10.

Hamilton put on a performance that proved to Detroit—and the rest of the NBA—that he can be a solid contributor no matter the length of the layoff or where he might land if he’s traded at the deadline.

Hamilton scored 15 points in his first action in 13 games and Tracy McGrady added 20, leading the Pistons over the Milwaukee Bucks 89-78 on Saturday night.

“I thought it was a joke. Like I said, I had no idea. No idea. Just yesterday I was inactive. Like I said I thought that was a sign that was my last time ever playing in a Piston uniform, you know?” Hamilton said.

Cavs lose record-setting 24th straight game

The Cleveland Cavaliers are now historically bad.

Saturday night, playing at home, the Cavs lost 111-105 to the Portland Trail Blazers. It was their 24th loss in a row, which sets the NBA all-time record for most consecutive losses over the course of a single season.

Down three after the first quarter, the Cavs stepped up and took a two-point lead at the half (57-55). But despite keeping it close most of the second half, they were unable to hang on for a victory.

In the win, Wesley Matthews shot 11-of-17 for 31 points. Nic Batum added 21 points. LaMarcus Aldridge on 19 shots had 20 points and 10 rebounds. The Blazers as a team shot 53.8% and nailed 12-of-19 from three-point range.

In the loss, the Cavs were led by Antawn Jamison, who on 16 shots had 17 points but just three rebounds. Ramon Sessions had 15 points, six rebounds and seven assists. Jamario Moon shot 5-of-6 off the bench for 14 points.

The Cavaliers are now 8-43, which is the worst record in the NBA.

Read fan reaction and discuss your own opinion on our NBA Forum.

J.R. Smith fined for foul on Raja Bell

J.R. Smith fined for foul on Raja Bell

J.R. Smith of the Denver Nuggets has been fined $25,000 for his Flagrant Foul, Penalty Two against Raja Bell of the Utah Jazz, it was announced today by Stu Jackson, NBA Executive Vice President, Basketball Operations.

The incident occurred with 6:45 remaining in the fourth quarter of the Nuggets’ 113-106 loss to the Utah Jazz at the Pepsi Center in Denver, CO on February 4.

InsideHoops.com says: Smith acted like a punk and deserved the fine.

Knicks hire Mark Warkentien as director, pro player personnel

New York Knickerbockers President of Basketball Operations Donnie Walsh announced today that the team has named Mark Warkentien as director, pro player personnel. In this role, Warkentien will consult Walsh on preparation for the NBA Draft, have scouting assignments and will advise on personnel moves.

“Mark is an excellent basketball operations executive and we are pleased to add him to our staff of highly accomplished executives and scouts,” Walsh said. “Mark will serve as a consultant and adviser and I look forward to working with him.”

Warkentien most recently served as vice president of basketball operations for the Denver Nuggets, where he was named NBA Executive of the Year following the 2008-09 season. He joined the Nuggets in 2005 as director of player personnel and was elevated to vice president of basketball operations in 2006. Prior to joining Denver, Warkentien spent 14 seasons working in various front office positions for the Portland Trail Blazers, Cleveland Cavaliers and Seattle SuperSonics. Warkentien also spent 11 years in the basketball operations department at the University of Nevada – Las Vegas.

Bucks sign Garrett Temple to second 10-day contract

The Milwaukee Bucks have signed guard Garrett Temple (6-5, 180) to a second 10-day contract, General Manager John Hammond announced today. Temple was signed to his initial 10-day contract on January 25.

Temple has played in all six games since signing with the Bucks and has averaged 2.5 points and 1.0 rebound in 11.7 minutes. In his first game with the Bucks on January 26 against Atlanta, Temple had eight points, three rebounds and three assists in just over 18 minutes.

Prior to joining the Bucks, Temple, 24, played 30 NBA games (four starts) in stints with San Antonio, Houston and Sacramento over the last two seasons with career averages of 4.6 points and 1.1 rebounds in 11.8 minutes. He appeared in three games earlier this season with San Antonio.

Undrafted out of Louisiana State University, Temple has appeared in 48 games (41 stats) the last two seasons in the NBA’s Development League (D-League) and averaged 14.3 points, 4.1 rebounds, 3.4 assists and 1.2 steals while knocking down 37.5 percent of his 3-pointers. He has split the 2010-11 D-League season between Erie and Rio Grande Valley and averaged 13.4 points, 4.8 rebounds, 3.3 assists, 1.0 steal and shot 38.7 percent from three in 18 games (11 starts).

The Bucks roster remains at 15 players.

Cavs drop 23rd straight, tie single-season record

The AP reports:

The Cleveland Cavaliers are haunted again by losing No. 23.

The Cavaliers matched the longest single-season losing streak in NBA history, dropping their 23rd straight game with a 112-105 loss to the Memphis Grizzlies on Friday night.

The Cavs tied the 1995-96 Grizzlies, then in Vancouver, and the 1997-98 Denver Nuggets for longest skid in one season, and can equal their own overall mark for futility with a loss in Saturday night’s game at home against the Portland Trail Blazers.

Cleveland lost 24 straight games spanning the 1981-82 and 1982-83 seasons.

“Watching the guys in the locker room, the one thing I can say is guys are very disappointed in the way we finished the game,” Cleveland coach Byron Scott said. “And maybe that’s a good thing.”